MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Hawarden Public Library
Monday, January 20, 2003 at 7:00 PM

The Council Meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.

Present: Mayor Porter; Council Members: Nohava, Woodley, Lubkeman, Harvey, Cauwels

Absent: None

Staff Present: Craig Coffey, City Administrator; Tom Kane, Public Works Director; Chris Myres, Telecommunications Director; James Pickner, City Attorney; Sharole Rens, Finance Officer; Mike DeBruin, Police Chief.

Staff Absent: None.

Standard Agenda Items

Televised

Item 1a. Approval of January 6, 2003 Minutes. Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman to approve the Minutes of January 6, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 1b. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Nohava/Cauwels to approve the Schedule of Claims for payment. Motion carried unanimously.

1c. Open Business from the Community. There was no open business from the community.

Item 2a. Mayor’s Report. Mr. Porter read a thank you note from Councilman Lubkeman on the recent death of his father. He congratulated Hospital Thrift Shop volunteers, Wilma Obbink, Kay Scroggs, LaVonne Slife, and Marilyn Orton on receiving this year’s Citizen’s of the Year award. He reported that the Indoor and Outdoor Community Center Committees have been meeting to go over plans and ideas and thanked all of the volunteers for working on this project. Mr. Porter reminded everyone of the upcoming Fireman’s Ball, Friday, January 24th at the Bistro Annex.

Item 2b. Staff Reports/Discussion.

• Mr. Coffey updated the Council on several events being held by the Activities Department. Approximately 66 children attended the roller skating trip to Sheldon. The Youth Basketball Program is up and running for kids in grades 2 - 6 to develop their skills. The Open Gym Program has started on Sundays from 1-3 at the High School.
• He reported that a meeting was held with Ireton in regard to police and telecommunications services.
• Mr. Coffey provided a copy of the letter sent to the State requesting assistance on the railroad track replacement issue and said that Tom and himself would be working with L. G. Everist and reviewing the lease terms of the spur.
• Tom Kane will be the City representative for the MRES Washington Legislative Rally from Feb. 9th - 12th . Mr. Coffey asked if any of the Council would be willing to attend the Iowa League of Cities Legislative Day set for February 12th.
• The City has switched our Principal Health Insurance agent from one in Omaha to a local Principal agent, Todd Ericson from Agency One.
• A contract has been worked out with U. S. Cellular. Cellular phone service should be available by February 1st with training to be held Thursday, January 23.
• A representative from WAPA was recently at the City to discuss electric rates, services, and energy strategies for the coming years.
• Mr. Coffey said that Staff is preparing an ordinance to set our pole attachment fees for Mediacom and to begin charging Hickory Tech.
• A letter has also been sent to the Rural Water Association to set up a meeting with them to discuss encroachment issues.
• Tom Kane reported that the pump at the Golf Course will be operational this week and we should have water quality reports within the next week.
• Chris Myres reported that the new phone books have been delivered.
• Police Chief, DeBruin stated that he had fingerprinted the Kindergarten and First Grade school children Monday. He also provided the Council with a crime statistic packet for their review.

Other Agenda Items

Item 3. Budget Reports - Reports by Groups About Current Budget and Upcoming Budgets.

1. Park Board - Duane Schiefen & Mary Hulleman;
2. Fire - Curt Winterfeld;
3. HAPP - George Jacobs, Wendy Lubkeman, Jerry Klemme, Mary Johnson;
4. Hospital - Brian Monsma & Robert Jaminet; e. Library - Val Haverhals

Members of the above groups were in attendance and discussed current and future projects.

Item 4. Request for Renewal of BC Alcohol License with Sunday Sales - A Request by Owner, Pedro Leon, Sole Proprietorship, dba as Latapatia, Located at 810 Central Avenue to Renew the License at this Location. Moved by Cauwels/Woodley to approve the renewal request for a BC Alcohol License with Sunday Sales for Latapatia. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 5. Discussion of Final Draft/First Reading of Ordinance 613, Utility Service Policies - An Ordinance of the City of Hawarden Repealing all of Title 23 “Public Utilities” and Replacing it with a New Title 12 Entitled “Utility Service Policies” and Therein Establishing Definitions, Customer Service Policies, General Service Policies, Specific Service Policies, and Utility Rates and Fees; Providing Repealer and Severability Clauses and an Effective Date. Mr. Coffey discussed the proposed changes to the previous draft, including eliminating some meter reading fees, removing higher electric base rates for non-demand three phase customers, alternate sewer policies and the reclassification of some electric categories. Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman to approve the first reading of Ordinance 613, Utility Service Policies. Aye: Nohava, Woodley, Lubkeman, Cauwels. Nay: Harvey. Motion carried.

Item 6. Approval of an Electric Rate Study Proposal from Missouri River Energy Services for $5,500. Tom Kane presented the proposed electric rate study from MRES. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to postpone this item until the February 3rd Council Meeting and until further information could be obtained on this study. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 7. Resolution 2003-02 Amended - A Resolution of the City of Hawarden Proposing to Dispose of Real Property, and Advertising the Sale, Taking of Bids, and the Scheduling of a Public Hearing on the Property Proposed to be Sold With Amended Dates. This Resolution will sell a 16 ft. east-west alley in the west half of Block 29 of Calliope. The amendment of this Resolution only changes the dates and adds changes from the previous meeting. The opposing east-west alley on the east side has previously been vacated. Moved by Harvey/Cauwels to approve the Amended Resolution 2003-02. Aye: Nohava, Woodley, Lubkeman, Harvey, Cauwels. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 8. Resolution 2003-03 - A Resolution of the City of Hawarden Authorizing the Expenditure of $20,000 Dollars to Jointly Purchase Park Property With the Hawarden Partnership for Progress in the Calliope Area, With Conditions; and Authorizing the Expenditure of up to $60,000 Towards the Platting/Replatting, Permitting, and Utility Installation of a 9-Lot Subdivision with Monetary Participation from the Lots as they are Developed; and Authorizing the City Administrator to Proceed on the Demolition and Cleanup of the Property, all for a Cost not to Exceed $3,500. Mr. Coffey presented Resolution 2003-03 and discussed estimates for the infrastructure of this subdivision. He discussed some last minute changes on the price of the park property and the addition of one lot. The City Attorney discussed replatting. The rewording of the resolution could not be worked out correctly at the meeting. Moved by Harvey/Woodley to postpone this item until the February 3rd Council Meeting and bring it back with better clarification. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 9. Discussion of FY 2003-04 Budget. Mr. Coffey presented the proposed Budget for FY 2003-04 and discussed some of the funds and changes that were not previously covered.

Moved by Harvey/Woodley to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The Council meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

__________________________
Ricard Porter, Mayor